The Legend Manny Pacquiao Retires

Manny Pacquiao will forever be known as the greatest Filipino boxer ever, and more than likely the golden standard of Asian fighting in the modern era. An eight-division world champion, winning twelve different world titles in the process was nothing short of remarkable.

Starting his career at flyweight winning the WBC title, Pacquiao would move up in weight all the way up to welterweight winning belts across all the divisions, while still keeping his same aggressive fighting style, a feat that had yet to be seen. A smaller man who bullied the bigger men, time and time again.

The major turning point for Pacquiao was in 2001 when Freddie Roach started working with Pacquiao, in 2005 – Pacquiao would get signed by industry leader, Top Rank Inc.

To understand how big of a star Pacquiao was/is, his eight biggest fights had a live gate of roughly 150 million dollars, and Pacquiao had 24 PPV bouts, a feat not normal, especially in the modern era.

Pacquiao’s American debut on PPV was against Erik Morales, who would engage in a trilogy that would see Pacquiao win two of the three of their bouts, Pacquaio would then beat Marco Antonio Barrera, and begin a career-long legacy feud with Juan Manuel Marquez, a fighter, who always seemed to fight better against Pacquiao, as well as fighting one of the lone southpaws of his career, David Diaz for a world title.

Pacquiao became a household name when he defeated Oscar De La Hoya in December of 2008. Pacquiao would then brutally stop Ricky Hatton in two rounds after his chief rival, Floyd Mayweather stopped him as well.

The early part of Pacquiao’s career was based around beating Mexican legends, as the action-orientated style of Pacquiao slowly started to win over Mexican-American fight fans, who were fans of other fighters, but respected Pacquiao’s efforts against their guy.

After Pacquiao defeated Miguel Cotto, the hype for Manny Pacquiao versus Floyd Mayweather was larger than life. It was the fight that fans wanted to see, but we got both fighters facing other opponents, as Pacquiao would fight Antonio Margarito, Joshua Clottey, and Shane Mosley.

Then came the shaky performances Pacquiao looked bad against Juan Manuel Marquez in their third bout in a fight that was a true 50-50 type of decision that went Pacquiao’s way. His next outing was a fight against Timothy Bradley Jr., in which Pacquiao held the card up to watch a basketball playoff game, and lost a decision that has been disputed by critics.

Pacquiao would follow this loss with yet another defeat as Juan Manuel Marquez would brutally knockout Pacquiao in their iconic fourth fight. At this point, Pacquiao seemed on the downslope of his career.

Yet, Pacquiao would beat Brandon Rios, Chris Algieri, Tim Bradley (two times), but lose to Floyd Mayweather, when they inevitably faced each other.

Pacquiao’s final act was away from Top Rank, and with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions, sports entity, as Pacquiao defeated Adrien Broner, and Keith Thurman – two fighters once looked at as stars, who just couldn’t quite get the traction needed with their careers.

Pacquiao’s last stand was a fight in which he looked every bit his age against Yordenis Ugas, a solid fighter, but one who felt like Trevor Berbick, getting a win over a famous fighter. I didn’t quite feel the same as when Marquez or Morales beat Pacquiao.

Pacquiao will forever be remembered for his hop-in, and hop-out ambush-style as well, as his ability to defy the social norm and conventional thinking around – what is possible when it comes to fighter’s moving up in weight.

Triller….

A year ago, boxing was the Teofimo Lopez show, but the Teofimo Lopez vs. George Kambosos Jnr purse bid won by Triller has now seemingly, put a lot of halt to the forward momentum of Lopez, as this bout has been delayed several times, and the mood has gone from excitement to exhaustion around this Triller PPV event.

Conversely, Lopez’s father, Teofimo Lopez Sr., known as Junior, never got the acclaim he should’ve as well for his coaching feats, in the Lomachenko bout which was a surprise as well. In short, 2021 has been a year that has seen one of the most exciting young fighters, Lopez, who is nearing his prime, inactive – and stuck behind a mandatory bout that dragged on until October.

In the end, Kambosos Jnr seems to be standing his ground with the IBF and stating that he wants the sanctioning body to say that Triller – the winning promoter of this fight, between Teofimo Lopez, under contract by Top Rank Inc, and George Kambosos Jnr., promoted by DiBella Entertainment – has defaulted and for the second-place winner in the purse bid, Matchroom Boxing to now get the rights to promote the bout.

Now we have even more of a mess.

As Kambosos Jnr is unwilling to resign a contract for October 16th, Triller has a serious decision to make, as the Monday, October 4th, which is next NEXT MONDAY – is off, so it is October 16th or bust. If they can’t get Kambosos Jnr to sign the fight they will not promote the fight.

Triller was once an exciting welcomed newcomer to the sport, but now – feels as though they’re just out of sorts, not unlike a golfer with a homemade swing unable to time hitting the ball.

This also comes on the eve of head of boxing operations Peter Kahn resigning.

The Debut of Boxxer

October 2nd, exclusive on SkySports

Another sleepy week of boxing is here, as we saw the drama of Teofimo Lopez versus George Kambosos Jnr stalemate another week of boxing, as the debut of Boxxer, which is the new boxing program being shown on the British broadcast company, Sky Sports, which is replacing Matchroom Boxing, which had ruled the U.K. channels airwaves for seemingly ever. At the time of this release, I have yet to find out if the card will be televised on American television/streaming live, meaning this is mainly a telecast made for the U.K.

Sky Sports now has a contract with Top Rank Inc for their events, which will air early in the morning live on British airways, and primetime programming with the new edition of Boxxer. They have also signed on Claressa Shields, Savannah Marshall, Caroline Dubois, amongst others.

The first card will be headlined by Chris Eubank Jr. who will face Sven Elbir at the SSE Arena Wembley. Eubank Jr. is fighting for the second time with Roy Jones Jr., as his coach, Eubank Jr., has merited a lot of attention over the years, but has not quite had the marquee moment as of yet, as many expected on his rise to fame. Eubank Jr. should get a highlight-reel KO in this opening attraction.

In the co-main event, the guy who won’t go away, David Avanesyan will face Liam Taylor, as Avanesyan has now retired Shane Mosley, beat Kerman Lejarraga two times, and Josh Kelly, as Taylor looks to upset Avanesyan, who is becoming a solid gatekeeper. This is an interesting bout that should make for a TV-friendly bout.

The big thing is – the biggest card of the week, is no longer available to U.S. fight fans, which is a shocking development in the world of streaming apps, and also showing that boxing as a whole is moving away from the United States.

DAZN Italy card

Friday, October 1st – DAZN, 11:30 AM PST

The card is built around Milan’s Daniele Scardina, who is an undefeated Italian super middleweight with dreams of fighting on the world stage, to do so he will have to get through Juergen Doberstein. The bout is something I am not sure many in America will watch live or even be aware of, but Scardina is someone who could find himself in the ring with a Dmitry Bivol, Callum Smith, or another super middleweight upper-echelon fighter in the future.

Sandy Ryan will fight in her second bout against Aleksandra Vujovic in a six-round women’s super lightweight bout. Ryan has international amateur experience and seems to be looking to be moved quickly.

Reshat Mati vs. Vladyslav Baranov will take place in an 8 round bout at welterweight. Mati, who trains with the Sosa Krew in New York City, is a fighter that is being organically built up on DAZN, and now is an eight-round fighter. This is Mati’s first fight in Italy and his second in Europe.

October 2nd

ESPN+

Miguel Vazquez, a former boogeyman in the early last decade of the sport, has now turned into a tough gatekeeper in Mexican Miguel Vazquez, as he has been putting on entertaining bouts in Mexico, and then parlaying those it big fights internationally will face Oliver Flores on ESPN+.

Brandon Moore, a very good fighter I liked at the 2019 Olympic Trials, is now a ten-round heavyweight fighter and has built his record up silently. Moore has the potential to compete at the world level, and beyond that, he has invested heavily in himself and his career and will see a big opportunity soon.

MMA in 500 Words Or Less

UFC Fight Night 193 – ESPN+, Saturday, 4 PM PST

The main event features big puncher Thiago Santos versus Johnny Walker in a battle of explosive and exciting fighters at light heavyweight, and with Jon Jones no longer in the division – the winner could be next in line for a world title.

Kevin Holland, a fighter known for his trash-talk as much as his skills will face, Kyle Daukaus. If Holland doesn’t win – I think we have found his ceiling at the present moment.

Two underground favorites, Misha Cirkunov and Krzysztof Jotko should engage in an all-action affair as the two are both decorated strikers.

Macy Chiasson will face Aspen Ladd, the winner of this could be in the title conversation to face Amanda Nunes.

A notable undercard fighter Bethe Correia who once fought Ronda Rousey for a world title is featured on the undercard

Bellator 267

Friday, 1 PM PST, Showtime

Bellator has this problem. Even if the cards they put on are good, it is not the UFC, and because of that – they always feel inferior and to be the second-fiddle organization. In terms of star power, Douglas Lima versus Michael “Venum” Page, could be quite a compelling match and if it were in the UFC, might be viewed as a must-see bout, but Bellator is trying to figure out, how to get people to watch their fights, and furthermore care.

This fight taking place on the afternoon on the west coast will be an on-demand fight for hardcore fight fans.